A. 2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad"

1. There will be an accounting at the day of judgment of how you handled the blessings of God in your life

2. The question is whether I have done as God desired with His gifts:

a. Of time

b. Of resources

c. Of health

3. How did I use the blessings of Jesus in my life?

B. After all, remember that as a Christian you are not even yours

1. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s"

2. We, as Christians, were bought with a price, that means we are not ours anymore

a. I buy a car, I determine how it gets used

b. Not its former owner and not the car

c. Neither should we determine what we do without God

C. Whatever you have that God did not create and give to you can be used as you wish, all other things must involve Christian stewardship, being used in His service

A. Be in control of your own faculties, physical, mental, and emotional

1. Self-control is the summative point of the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:23)

2. God wants you to be in control of you

B. Paul further preaches self-control

1. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27, "And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified"

2. We all want to win the prize, that is why we compete

3. Winning takes self-control

4. Paul says that he buffets his body (Not buffet-ed) so that he would be like the message of God, working on self-control

A. Romans 14:20-21, "Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak"